Resistor



Nov. 27 1923.

B. O. AUSTIN RESISTOR Filed Sept. 8. 1921 WITNESSES:

Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UNITED. STATE PATENT OFFICE.

BASCUM o. AUSTIN, onwrnizmsnuno, rnivlvsrnvenrn, assrenon 'roWESTINGHOUSE RESISTOR.

Application filed September 8, 1921. Serial No. 499,342.

To all whom it may, concern.

Be it known that I, BASCUM OJAUsriN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of VVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State o'tPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Ii'nprovcment in Resistors,of which the following is a specification.

My invention elates to resistors and it has particular relation tomeansfor cooling resistors thatare employed wherethe space therefor isrelatively limited, such, for ex ample, as upon electric locomotives.

One object of my invention is toprovide a resistance device that shallbe relatively simple and economical in construction and reliable andpositive in operation.

Another object ofmy invention is to provide an efficient means forcooling resistors.

l-leretofore, blower devices have been employed to cool the resistors inelectric locomotives, when it was desirable to operate such resistors atrelatively high eiliciency. The cooling medium has been directed uponthe resistors by means of conducting pipes. With this arran ement of thecooling device, there has been some loss of power caused by eddycurrents of the cooling medium in the conducting pipes and by thearrangement of the resistors.

Briefly speaking, my invention consists in providing a hollow stack ofresistors and mounting a fan or cooling device therein.

The fan drives the cooling medium directly through the resistors withoutemploying any conductors and without a portion of the medium beingdissipated in the sur rounding air.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be made to theaccompanying drawing, p Figure 1 of which is a plan view of a resistancedevice constructed in accordance with my invention; 7 1

Fig. 2 is a view. in a side elevation, of the device illustrated in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of a resistance deviceconstructed in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 4 is a view, in side elevation, of the devices illustrated in Fig.3.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, a resistancedevice 1 comprises a plurality of stacks'of grid resistors 2 arranged toform a ring. A fan 3 is mounted within the opening formed by theresistor 2 and is mechanically connected to the rotor t of a motor. 5 bymeans of a shaft 6. The resistors 2 are mounted upon a stationaryplatform 7 by means of bolts 8. The grids are spaced one from another bymeans of a plurality of insulating washers 9. The resistors 2 areelectrically connected by means of copper washers 10.

The stacks of grid resistors 2 maybe connected in series relation onewith another or in anyother relation'that may be con sidered desirablefor the particular control system in which they are employed. Theoperation of the resistance device 1 is begun whenever'a plurality ofconductors 11, which are connected to the resistors 2, are energized, asthe motor 5 is energized simultaneously therewith. by means of switchesand suitable interlocking (not illustrated).

The rapid rotation of the fan 3 causes the blades 13, which are ofuniform crosssection throughout, to drive the air, or other coolingmedium, within the center of the annular resistance device outwardlythrough the spaces between the individual grid resistors 2. The air isthus driven directly from the blowing device through the intersticesbetween the resistors 2 and, consequently, thereis no loss of power dueto eddycurrents or dissipated air pressure.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4.- of the drawing, like parts are givencorresponding numbers.

The stacks of resistors 2 are mounted upon a plurality of rotatableframes 16 and 17 by means of bolts 8 which mechanically connect theframes one to another. The fan 18 is mounted Within the center of theresistance device by means of a" stationary supportingmember 19 which issecured to stationary bearing 20. The frames 17 and 16 are mechanicallysecured to the shaft 6 and are rotated thereby.

The resistors 2 are energized from conductors 11 through a plurality ofslip rings 21. A suitable bearing 22 is provided for the frame 17 toturn upon the frame 6.

The operation of the device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4: is begun assoon as the conductors 11 are energized as the conductors 12 of themotor 5 are energized simulta neously by means of suitable interlockingupon a plurality of control switches (not shown)- The motor 5 rotatesthe frames 16 and 17 andthe resistors 2, which are mounted thereon.about the stationary tan 6, thereby causing a double action of the tanand the surrounding atmosphere to cool the resistors 2. It is alsoapparent that, by means of suitable gearing, it is possible to drive thetan 6 in one direction and to rotate the resistors 2 in the oppositedirection.

From the above description, it is apparent that I have provided meansfor cooling a plurality of grid resistors whereby very high elliciencyof the blower device or fan is secured.

While I have shown my invention in the preferred form. it is apparentthat minor modifications may be made in the arrangement of the structurewithout departing vfrom the spirit of my invention.

I desire, therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a hollow resistor, of a blower device positionedwithin said resistor, and means for actuating said device.

2. The combination with a hollow resistor, of a tan mounted within saidresistor, and means for driving said fan.

3. The combination with a hollow resistor, of a fan positioned withinsaid resistor, and means for securing relative movement of said resistorand said fan.

l. The combination with an annular resistor, of a fan pivotally mountedwithin said resistor and a motor for driving said fan.

5. The combination with a rotatable resistor, of means for actuatingsaid resistor to effect cooling thereof- 6. The combination with ahollow re '3 tor, of a stationary member mounted therein and means forrotating said resistor.

7. The combination with a plurality of resistors. oi? means for mountingsaid resis tors to form a hollow bodvand means within said body fordriving; a cooling fluid therethrough.

S. The combination with a plurality of grid resistors, of means formounting said resistors to form. a hollow body, and means for driving acooling fluid through said body from within.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th dayof August 1921.

BASCUM O. AUSTIN.

